Page 41 of Gary
He thought about calling up music to soothe the nerves but decided against it. He did not want her to know that he was a bundle of nerves, or chance her changing her mind.
He held his breath several times during the ride, wondering if she would decide that it was not wise to give into his pleas.
He had never lived with a woman before of course, but several times in the past, he had slept over. Sex to him before had been a power play, something he used to get his mind off his problems. And he was an expert at it. Why the hell not? He had been sharpening his skills since he was barely a teen.
But now it was different. This was significant and he did not want to prove his prowess at sex, he wanted to make her wanthim as much as he wanted her. He was desperate for that to happen.
Sliding into the parking lot, he came around and opened her door.
“Cold?” He asked when she shivered.
“A bit.”
“The weather has gotten worse. I think there is rain…,” he broke off when he realized he was talking about the damn temperature. He did not say anything else on the short ride in the elevator. And neither did she.
Punching in the code, he pushed open the double doors and ushered her in. Engaging the alarm, he turned to take her jacket and hung it on the coat tree along with his.
“Um, would you like a tour?”
“Yes.” She rushed in breathlessly and they both realized they were stalling. Which was ridiculous because he could not wait to get the night started.
“It’s fairly new,” he continued lamely and almost blurted out that his family had built these exclusive apartments for the nouveau rich. Hotshot executives with money to burn and who were killing it on Wall Street. Investment bankers and spoiled trust fund babies. Which he supposed would make him one of them. But he had never been spoiled.
“This way.” He led the way through the wide hallway and showed her the laundry room that was close to a small, but very pretty ensuite room done in pale green and blue.
“Maid’s quarters.” He told her briefly.
“Do you have one?”
He shook his head as he led her to the game room.
“I have a service. I hate people in my personal space.” He did not add that after living with a household of staff who had been terrified of his dad and uncle George, it had turned him off.
“You have a Foosball machine and a pool table.”
“Do you play?” He resigned himself to delaying the night he had in store for them.
“Which one?” She was beginning to relax a little and wanted to spend some more time delaying what she knew was going to happen between them.
“Both.”
“I rock at both.”
“Shall we?”
“Was that a challenge?” His thick brows cocked at her.
“Bring it on!” She actually linked her fingers and stretched them as if preparing for combat or competition. “Which one first?”
“Pool. Absolutely.”
“Let’s get started.” Picking up the cue sticks, he handed her one. “I have to warn you that I was reigning king for both games for years at my school.”
She lifted tapered brows. “How long ago was that?”
He grinned. “It doesn’t matter, I haven’t lost my skills.”
“Actions will tell.” He watched in amusement as she lined up the balls precisely. Lifting the triangle, she positioned herself and ran the stick through her fingers several times, a frown of concentration on her face.